Key case



K'EY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED sPT.2, 192|.

Patented May 30, 1922.

ATTORNEYS.

entre@ srares FATENT @FFQ BERNARD BIEHL, SR., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,'ASSIGNOR TO J. L. SOMMER MANU- FACTURING C0.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

KEY CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 2, 1921. Serial No. 497,927.

To'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD BIEHL, Sr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key Cases, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to key cases, and more particularly to key cases of the type embodying a flexible folding case similar to a pocket book and having at one end a plurality of pivotally mounted members for holding keys whereby the keys can be positioned within the case or swung outwardly therefrom into position to be inserted into a lock.

The objects of the invention are to provide a key case o which the pivotally mounted members for holding the keys are formed of an anchor member and a clip pivoted thereto; to thus enable the desired restriction of movement of the anchor member with respect to the case to be secured and yet the key receiving clip have la greater freedom of movement; to thus facilitate-the handling and operation of a given key when projected from the key case, so that it can be used more conveniently; to make the anchor member only long enough to project from the key case and the key receiving clip longer so as to secure freedom of the key with respect to the case at a point at or near the edge of the case, and to obtain other results and advantages as mayl be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a plan view of the key case constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same open with the key holding means in normal position;

Figure 2,is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the pivot tube of the holding strip, showing one key holding member in normal position withinvthe case and one swung into-operative position out of the case Figure 3 is sectional view through the body portion of the case and the holding strip, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, one of the key holding members being shown in side elevation;

Figure 4 is transverse sectional view the character described in a n fragmentary longitudinal through the pivot tube taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detached perspective view of one of the anchor members, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the key case and a key in a lock showing the-operation of the device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the reference character A designates the case which comprises a single piece of suitable material, preferably flexible such as leather, adapted to be folded on the lines. 1, 1 to form a body portion 2 and cooperating closure flaps 3. adapted to be folded over the body portion 2 in overlapping relation and to be secured to each other by any suitable means such as the head and socket fastening members 4 and 5 secured respectivelyto the flaps 3.

A metal holding strip 6 is secured by suitable means, such as the eyelets 7, to the body portion 2 of the case adjacent one end thereof, the said strip having one edge thereof rolled backwardly upon itself to form a pivot tube 8 which is formed with a .plurality of transverse slots 9 spaced longitudinally of the tube. The slots 9 are preferably formed in the strip before the same is rolled into the tube 8, and with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be noted that said slots terminate short of the edge of the strip so as to provide connecting portions 10 between opposite sides of the slots at the inside of the tube.

An anchor member 11 is pivotally and swivelly mounted in each of the slots 9, the said members comprising shanks of a diameter slightly less than the width of the slot 9, and having at one end thereof substantially spherical heads 1Q of a diameter less than the diameter of the tube and greater than the width of the slots 9, said heads being arranged within the pivot tube 8. The opposite ends of the members 11 are preferably flattened as at 13, and are formed with openings 14 to pivotally receive key holding clips 15 which are adapted to receive keys 16 shown in dotted lines on Figure 1. In applying the anchor members 11 to the pivot tube 8, the edge of the strip 6 is partially returned upon itself, after which the shanks of the members 11l are passed outwardly through the slots 9 between the body portion of the strip and the returned edge thereof.

The aps 3 are case into the position l grasped also and struction be held The edge is-then completely the strip so as to enclose the anchor members within the With this construction it will be observed bers are adapted to swing through the s ots 9 in single plane longitudinally of the body portion 2 of the case, and are also adapted to revolve about their axes independently of the case and strip 6.

In normal operation of the device the anchor members ll and clips l5 are swung -against the body portion Figure l, and the keys 16 carried by the clips l5 lie substantially flat against the said .body portion. The closure flaps 3 are normally folded over the keys and anchor members and fastened together, thereby preventing the anchor members from swinging out of the case or moving longitudinally outwardly through one end thereof. The enthat the anchor me gagement of the shanks of the anchor members with the edges of the slots 9 limits lateral movement of the anchor members so that the keys do the clips pivoted to the anchor members permit key en it is projected from the key case. When it is desired to useone of the keys for operating a lock, the flaps 3 are unfastened and the desired key swung out of the shown in Figures 2 and 6 and by dot and dash lines in Figure 3, outward movement of the anchor ll being limited by the end of the slot 9. The key may then be revolved in the lock,y and the swivel connection of the anchor member with the pivot tube 8 enables this revolution of the key without rotation or other movement of the case. The clips l5 provide a flexible connection of the keys to the case key 1n a lock, the said clips, when the keys are in the case and the flaps 3 fastened together, also being sufficiently rigid to prevent the keys from sliding out through the end of the casing. will be noted that not only can the anchor the key case, but the clips 15 are also pivoted to the anchor members as well as to the A. very :flexible connection of the key to the key case is thus provided, which greatly facilitates convenience and natural a key. For example, when the key is grasped for use the key clip is naturally may by my improved conpractically against movement with respect to the key, the pivotal movement necessary for the key with respect to the key case taking place at the ends.

of the anchor member. Furthermore, ift will be noted ably longer than the anchor members 1l, said anchor members serving chiefly toV eX- tend over the edge of the key case and locate the pivotal connections of them to the key clips outside the key case. This secures the flexibility in use which has been described, and yet at the same time sufficiently confines the keys when the case is closed, as has also been explained.

Obviously modifications or changes may be made in the detail construction of my invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and therefore I do not desire 'to be understood as limiting myself except as chor member having a shank passing into said tubular support through said slot and a head on the end thereof arranged within can swing in said slot and own axis relatively to said and a key receiving `clip other end of said anchor member revolve about its tubular member, pivotally connected to the anchor member.

2. `A key case including a tubular support having a transverse slot therein, an anchor member mounted to swing in said slot and revolve about its own axis relatively to said-tubular member, and a key receiving clip pivotally connected to the other end of said anchor member.

3. A key case including a tubular support having a transverse slot therein, an anchor member having a shank passing through said slot with a head in the tubular support and an eye at its outer end, and a key receiving clip hinged in said eye.

key case including a tubular support having a transverse slot therein, an anchor member mounted to swing in said slot,

receiving clip of port and an'outer end flattened to a width l'greater than that of said slot and perforated,

and a key receiving clip hinged in said perforation.

.BERNARD BIEHL, sR.

that the clips l5 are prefer- 

